Doctors will be able to order tests online

No more forms to fill out as myhealth platform will enable direct input

Doctors can now order tests for their patients online as upgrades to the public health sector’s myhealth platform are rolled out.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday morning, Health Minister Chris Fearne said that while in the past doctors had to fill up papers in order to requests tests for their patients, the update to the platform would enable them to do so online.

This, the minister said, would ensure that there was continuity of care as patients could opt to visit any family doctor on any given day and have any tests ordered immediately.

According to Mr Fearne, some 50,000 patients currently make use of the myhealth service, with numbers continuously on the rise.

“This is the first step in a number of interactivity measures. At one point, we will also allow doctors to input data which means that every patient's information will be available to any doctor of their choice. This will lead to more continuity of health,” the minister said.

Doctors will also soon be able to order X-rays using the myhealth platform as well as give online consent for cross-border transfer of patient summaries when these are being treated abroad.